A village called Maredorp has existed here since at least the 10th century. A chapel dedicated tot the virgin Mary was built around 1300, called the Vrouwekerk (Church of Our Lady). A bridge built over the Rhine in the 14th century made the village convenient for people from Leiden, which annexed Maredorp as the third parish of the town. Several convents were built near the church. After the Reformation, in 1584 the church was assigned to the new French Reformed congregation (the Walloon Church). They numbered as many as 6000 members in the 17th century and were granted an additional chapel on the Breestraat in 1638. Because of dwindling numbers and dilapidation of the Vrouwekerk, the Walloons withdrew to their other chapel only, in 1818.